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Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from former Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the sum due".